Blue State Coffee runs coffee stores in Providence, Rhode Island, New Haven, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts. The company donates 2% of sales to "local, progressive" causes, and has given over $275,000 to date.
Contents |
The company launched a website in September 2006. The first store opened in July 2007 on Thayer Street in Providence, RI, near Brown University.
In February 2009, Blue State Coffee opened two more stores: one in the Brown University Bookstore and another in New Haven, CT, near Yale University[1][2]
In May 2010, Blue State Coffee opened a fourth store in New Haven, CT, again close to Yale University. A fifth store opened in September 2010 on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, MA.
Blue State Coffee has received coverage in Vanity Fair, the Hartford Courant, the Providence Journal, Yale Daily News, and The Brown Daily Herald, among other newspapers.
As their name suggests, Blue State Coffee alleges to be motivated by liberal ideals. While not a part of any political organization, the cafes frequently host speakers and events for a variety of causes. Notable speakers have included Al Franken (while running for senate in Minnesota), Kal Penn (while campaigning for Barack Obama), and Craig Robinson[3] (Michelle Obama's brother).
As of October 2011, Blue State Coffee has donated over $250,000 to non-profit organizations in New Haven, CT, Providence, RI, and Boston, MA[4]. In New Haven, these organizations include All Our Kin, the Connecticut Food Bank, LEAP, CitySeed, Yale's Dwight Hall, the Festival of Arts and Ideas, JUNTA for Progressive Action, and New Haven Reads. In Providence, these organizations include Summerbridge, Farm Fresh RI, and Marriage Equality RI.